Tuscany Villas

Massa and Carrara @ The Cities of Marble

Massa boasts of ancient origins. Some archeological findings in Resceto witness the presence of the man in this area as early as the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages. The first settlements developed in the 9th century, when Massa was under the episcopate of Luni. The Obertenghi family ruled the town between the 10th and the 13the century. In this period the town was fortified. During the 13th and 14th century, Lucca and Pisa struggled for the possession of Massa and, after having been ruled by the Visconti family and by Florence, in 1442 the town became part of the Malaspina Marquisate. Under Alberico Cybo Malaspina, the small state - already including Carrara - reached the height of its expansion in the second half of the 16th century. In 1829, Maria Beatrice, the daughter of Maria Teresa, the last Cybo Malaspina heir, and of Ercole Rinaldo d`Este, died and the state became part of the Duchy of Modena. In 1860, it was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy. During World War II, Massa was dangerously close to the Gothic Line and was heavily bombed. Today, Massa is an important industrial and touristic center.

Carrara`s history is linked to that of Massa, at least in part. Since Roman times, the town has been renowned for its marble quarries. In 963, Emperor Ottone gave Carrara in deed to the bishop of Luni. Pisa, Lucca, the Scaligeri and Visconti families ruled Carrara in the following centuries; then, in 1442, it became part of the Malaspina Marquisate and from then on, it shared a common history with the neighbouring Massa.